Lebanese army says it killed 3 militants in raid near border with Syria

BEIRUT – The Lebanese army says it has killed three militants and wounded four others in a raid near the border with Syria.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the military says it carried out the raid in the hills of Mkhairmeh based on information that "terrorist groups" were preparing logistics for combat operations there.

It says the army attack was in the context of "preventive military operations" to eradicate militant groups and prevent them from infiltrating Lebanon to target army outposts and civilians.

The Lebanese military occasionally clashes with Syria-based militants from the Islamic State group and the Nusra Front.

Last year, militants from the two groups jointly raided the Lebanese border town of Arsal and captured about two dozen soldiers. Since then, they have killed four of the soldiers.